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  • Title: Henry The Eighth (Modern)
  • Editor: Diane Jakacki

  • Copyright Diane Jakacki. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Diane Jakacki
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry The Eighth (Modern)

    Enter the Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, Lord Surrey, 1825and Lord Chamberlain.
    Norfolk
    If you will now unite in your complaints
    And force them with a constancy, the cardinal
    Cannot stand under them. If you omit
    The offer of this time I cannot promise
    1830But that you shall sustain more new disgraces
    With these you bear already.
    Surrey
    I am joyful
    To meet the least occasion that may give me
    Remembrance of my father-in-law the duke
    1835To be revenged on him.
    Suffolk
    Which of the peers
    Have uncondemned gone by him, or at least
    Strangely neglected? When did he regard
    The stamp of nobleness in any person
    1840Out of himself?
    Chamberlain
    My lords, you speak your pleasures;
    What he deserves of you and me, I know.
    What we can do to him, (though now the time
    Gives way to us) I much fear. If you cannot
    1845BBar his access to' th' king, never attempt
    Anything on him; for he hath a witchcraft
    Over the king in's tongue.
    Norfolk
    O fear him not,
    His spell in that is out: the King hath found
    1850Matter against him that forever mars
    The honey of his language. No, he's settled
    (Not to come off), in his displeasure.
    Surrey
    Sir,
    I should be glad to hear such news as this
    1855Once every hour.
    Norfolk
    Believe it, this is true.
    In the Diuorce, his contrarie proceedings
    Are all unfolded, wherein he appears
    As I would wish mine enemy.
    1860Surrey
    How came
    His practices to light?
    Suffolk
    Most strangely.
    Surrey
    O, how? how?
    Suffolk
    The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried
    1865And came to th' eye o' th' king, wherein was read
    How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
    To stay the judgement o' th' divorce; for if
    It did take place, 'I do', (quoth he) 'perceive
    My king is tangled in affection to
    1870A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'
    Surrey
    Has the King this?
    Suffolk
    Believe it.
    Surrey
    Will this work?
    Chamberlain
    The king in this perceiuvs him, how he coasts
    1875And hedges his own way. But in this point
    All his tricks founder, and he brings his physick
    After his patient's death: the king already
    Hath married the fair lady.
    Surrey
    Would he had.
    1880Suffolk
    May you be happy in your wish, my lord,
    For I profess you have it.
    Surrey
    Now all my joy
    Trace the conjunction.
    Suffolk
    My amen to't.
    1885Norfolk
    All men's.
    Suffolk
    There's order given for her coronation;
    Marry this is yet but young and may be left
    To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
    She is a gallant creature, and complete
    1890In mind and feature. I persuade me, from her
    Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
    In it be memorized.
    Surrey
    But will the king
    Digest this letter of the cardinal's?
    1895The Lord forbid.
    Norfolk
    Marry, amen.
    Suffolk
    No, no!
    There be more wasps that buzz about his nose
    Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
    1900Is stolen away to Rome, hath ta'en no leave,
    Has left the cause o'th' king unhandled, and
    Is posted as the agent of our cardinal
    To second all his plot. I do assure you,
    The king cried ha! at this.
    1905Chamberlain
    Now God incense him,
    And let him cry ha! louder.
    Norfolk
    But my lord,
    When returns Cranmer?
    Suffolk
    He is returned in his opinions, which
    1910Have satisfied the king for his divorce,
    Together with all famous colleges
    Almost in christendom. Shortly, (I believe),
    His second marriage shall be published, and
    Her coronation. Katherine no more
    1915Shall be called queen, but Princess Dowager
    And widow to Prince Arthur.
    Norfolk
    This same Cranmer's
    A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
    In the king's business.
    1920Suffolk
    He has, and we shall see him
    For it, an archbishop.
    Norfolk
    So I hear.
    Suffolk
    'Tis so.
    Enter Wolsey and Cromwell.
    1925The Cardinal.
    Norfolk
    Observe, observe; he's moody.
    The packet, Cromwell,
    Gave't you the king?
    Comwell
    To his own hand, in's bedchamber.
    Looked he o'th'inside of the paper?
    Comwell
    Presently
    He did unseal them, and the first he viewed
    He did it with a serious mind; a heed
    Was in his countenance. You he bade
    1935Attend him here this morning.
    Is he ready to come abroad?
    Comwell
    I think by this he is.
    Leave me a while.
    Exit Cromwell.
    It shall be to the Duchess of Alanson,
    1940The French king's sister; he shall marry her.
    Anne Bullen? No, I'll no Anne Bullens for him;
    There's more in't then fair visage. Bullen?
    No, we'll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
    To hear from Rome. The marchioness of Pembroke?
    1945Norfolk
    He's discontented.
    Suffolk
    Maybe he hears the king
    Does whet his anger to him.
    Sharp enough,
    Lord, for thy justice.
    The late queen's gentlewoman?
    A knight's daughter
    To be her mistress's mistress? The queen's queen?
    This candle burns not clear; 'tis I must snuff it
    Then out it goes. What, though I know her virtuous
    1955And well deserving, yet I know her for
    A spleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to
    Our cause, that she should lie i'th'bosom of
    Our hard ruled king. Again there is sprung up
    An heretic, an arch-one: Cranmer, one
    1960Hath crawled into the favor of the king
    And is his oracle.
    Norfolk
    He is vexed at something.
    Enter King, reading of a Schedule.
    I would 'twer something that would fret the string,
    1965The master-cord on's heart.
    Suffolk
    The king. The king.
    King Henry
    What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
    To his own portion? And what expense by'th'hour
    Seems to flow from him? How i'th'name of thrift
    1970Does he rake this together? Now, my lords,
    Saw you the cardinal?
    Norfolk
    My lord, we have
    Stood here observing him. Some strange commotion
    Is in his brain; he bites his lip and starts,
    1975Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
    Then lays his finger on his temple; straight
    Springs out into fast gate, then stops again,
    Strikes his breast hard, and anon, he casts
    His eye against the moon. In most strange postures
    1980We have seen him set himself.
    King Henry
    It may well be
    There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
    Papers of state he sent me, to peruse
    As I required; and wot you what I found
    1985There (on my conscience put unwittingly),
    Forsooth an inventory thus importing
    The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
    Rich stuffs and ornaments of household, which
    I find at such proud rate that it out-speaks
    1990Possession of a subject.
    Norfolk
    It's heaven's will
    Some spirit put this paper in the packet
    To bless your eye with all.
    King Henry
    If we did think
    1995His contemplation were above the earth,
    And fixed on spiritual object, he should still
    Dwell in his musings; but I am afraid
    His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
    His serious considering.
    King takes his Seat, whispers [to] Lovell, who goes to the Cardinal.
    Heaven forgive me,
    Ever God bless your highness.
    King Henry
    Good my lord,
    2005You are full of heavenly stuff and bear the inventory
    Of your best graces in your mind, the which
    You were now running o'er. You have scarce time
    To steal from spiritual leisure, a brief span
    To keep your earthly audit, sure in that
    2010I deem you an ill husband and am galled
    To have you therein my companion.
    Sir,
    For holy offices I have a time; a time
    To think upon the part of business which
    2015I bear i'th'state; and nature does require
    Her times of preservation, which perforce
    I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
    Must give my 'tendance to.
    King Henry
    You have said well.
    And ever may your highness yoke together,
    (As I will lend you cause), my doing well
    With my well saying.
    King Henry
    'Tis well said again,
    And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well;
    2025And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you;
    He said he did, and with his deed did crown
    His word upon you. Since I had my office
    I have kept you next my heart, have not alone
    Employed you where high profits might come home,
    2030But pared my present havings to bestow
    My bounties upon you.
    What should this mean?
    The lord increase this business.
    King Henry
    Have I not made you
    2035The prime man of the state? I pray you tell me,
    If what I now pronounce you have found true,
    And if you may confess it, say withal
    If you are bound to us or no. What say you?
    My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
    2040Showered on me daily, have been more than could
    My studied purposes requite, which went
    Beyond all man's endeavors. My endeavors
    Have ever come too short of my desires,
    Yet filled with my abilities. Mine own ends
    2045Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
    To'th'good of your most sacred person and
    The profit of the state. For your great graces
    Heaped upon me (poor undeserver), I
    Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
    2050My prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty
    Which ever has and ever shall be growing
    Till death (that winter), kill it.
    King Henry
    Fairly answered.
    A loyal and obedient subject is
    2055Therein illustrated; the honor of it
    Does pay the act of it, as i'th'contrary
    The foulness is the punishment. I presume
    That as my hand has opened bounty to you,
    My heart dropped love, my power rained honor, more
    2060On you than any. So your hand and heart,
    YYour brain and every function of your power,
    Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty
    As 'twer in love's particular, be more
    To me your friend than any.
    I do profess
    That for your highness' good I ever labored
    More then mine own; that am, have, and will be
    (Though all the world should cracke their duty to you,
    And throw it from their soul, though perils did
    2070Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and
    Appear in forms more horrid) yet my duty,
    As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
    Should the approach of this wild river break
    And stand unshaken yours.
    2075King Henry
    'Tis nobly spoken.
    Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
    For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this,
    And after this, and then to breakfast with
    What appetite you have.
    2080Exit King, frowning upon the Cardinal, the Nobles throng after him, smiling and whispering.
    What should this mean?
    What sudden anger's this? How have I reaped it?
    He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
    2085Leaped from his eyes. So looks the chafed lion
    Upon the daring huntsman that has galled him;
    Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
    I fear the story of his anger. 'Tis so:
    This paper ha's undone me: 'Tis th'account
    2090Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
    For mine own ends, (indeed to gain the popedom,
    And fee my friends in Rome). O, negligence!
    Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil
    Made me put this main secret in the packet
    2095I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
    No new device to beat this from his brains?
    I know 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
    A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
    Will bring me off again. What's this? To th'pope?
    2100The letter (as I live) with all the business
    I writ to's holiness. Nay then, farewell.
    I have touched the highest point of all my greatness,
    And from that full meridian of my glory
    I haste now to my setting. I shall fall
    2105Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
    And no man see me more.
    Enter to Wolsey the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.
    Norfolk
    Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal,
    2110Who commands you
    To render up the great seal presently
    Into our hands, and to confine yourself
    To Asher house, my lord of Winchester's,
    Till you hear further from his highness.
    Stay.
    WWhere's your commission? Lords, words cannot carry
    Authority so weighty.
    Suffolk
    Who dare cross 'em,
    Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly?
    Till I finde more then will, or words to do it,
    (I mean your malice), know officious lords,
    I dare and must deny it. Now I feel
    Of what coarse metal ye are molded. Envy,
    How eagerly ye follow my disgraces
    2125As if it fed ye, and how sleek and wanton
    Ye appear in everything may bring my ruin?
    Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
    You have Christian warrant for 'em, and no doubt
    In time will find their fit rewards. That seal
    2130You ask with such a violence, the king
    (Mine and your master), with his own hand gave me,
    Bade me enjoy it with the place and honors
    During my life, and to confirm his goodness
    Tied it by letters patents. Now, who'll take it?
    The king that gave it.
    It must be himself, then.
    Thou art a proud traitor, priest.
    Proud lord, thou liest.
    Within these forty hours, Surrey, durst better
    2140Have burnt that tongue than said so.
    Thy ambition
    (Thou scarlet sin), robbed this bewailing land
    Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law;
    The heads of all thy brother-cardinals,
    2145(With thee, and all thy best parts bound together),
    Weighed not a hair of his. Plague of your policy,
    You sent me deputy for Ireland,
    Far from his succor; from the king, from all
    That might have mercy on the fault, thou gav'st him,
    2150Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
    Absolu'd him with an axe.
    This and all else,
    This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
    I answer is most false. The duke by law
    2155Found his deserts. How innocent I was
    From any private malice in his end,
    His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
    If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you
    You have as little honesty as honor,
    2160That in the way of loyalty and truth
    Toward the king, my ever royal master,
    Dare mate a sounder man then Surrey can be,
    And all that love his follies.
    By my soul
    2165Your long coat, priest, protects you.
    Thou should'st feel
    My sword i'th'life blood of thee else. My lords,
    Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
    And from this fellow? If we live thus tamely
    2170To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,
    Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,
    And dare us with his cap like larks.
    All goodness
    Is poison to thy stomach.
    Yes, that goodness
    Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
    Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion;
    The goodness of your intercepted packets
    You writ to'th pope against the king; your goodness,
    2180Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.
    My lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,
    As you respect the common good, the state
    Of our despised nobility, our issues,
    (Whom, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen),
    2185Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
    Collected from his life. I'll startle you
    Worse then the sacring bell when the brown wench
    LLay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal.
    How much, methinks, I could despise this man
    2190But that I am bound in charity against it.
    Norfolk
    Those articles, my lord, are in the king's hand;
    But thus much, they are foul ones.
    So much fairer
    And spotless shall mine innocence arise
    2195When the king knows my truth.
    This cannot saue you.
    I thank my memory I yet remember
    Some of these articles, and out they shall.
    Now, if you can blush and cry guilty, cardinal,
    2200You'l show a little honesty.
    Speak on, sir;
    I dare your worst objections. If I blush
    It is to see a nobleman want manners.
    I had rather want those than my head;
    2205Have at you.
    First, that without the king's assent or knowledge,
    You wrought to be a legate, by which power
    You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops.
    Norfolk
    Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
    2210To foreign princes, ego and rex meus
    Was still inscribed, in which you brought the king
    To be your servant.
    Suffolk
    Then, that without the knowledge
    Either of king or council, when you went
    2215Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold
    To carry into Flanders the great seal.
    Item: you sent a large commission
    To Gregory de Cassado to conclude,
    Without the king's will or the state's allowance,
    2220A league between his highness and Ferrara.
    Suffolk
    That out of mere ambition you have caused
    Your holy hat to be stamped on the king's coin.
    Then, that you have sent innumerable substance,
    (By what means got, I leave to your own conscience),
    2225To furnish Rome and to prepare the ways
    You have for dignities, to the mere undoing
    Of all the kingdom. Many more there are
    Which,since they are of you and odious,
    I will not taint my mouth with.
    2230Chamberlain
    O, my lord,
    Press not a falling man too far! 'tis virtue;
    His faults lie open to the laws. Let them,
    Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
    So little, of his great self.
    I forgive him.
    Suffolk
    Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure is,
    Because all those things you have done of late
    By your power legislative within this kingdom,
    Fall into th' compass of a premunire;
    2240That therefore such a writ be sued against you
    To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
    Castles, and whatsoever, and to be
    Out of the king's protection. This is my charge.
    Norfolk
    And so we'll leave you to your meditations
    2245HHow to live better. For your stubborn answer
    About the giving back the great seal to us,
    The king shall know it and, no doubt, shall thank you.
    So fare you well, my little good Lord cardinal.
    Exeunt all but Wolsey.
    So farewell to the little good you bear me.
    Farewell? A long farewell to all my greatness.
    This is the state of man; today he puts forth
    The tender leaves of hopes, tomorrow blossoms,
    And bears his blushing honors thick upon him.
    2255The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
    And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
    His greatness is a ripening, nips his root,
    And then he falls as I do. I have ventured
    Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders.
    2260This many summers in a sea of glory
    But far beyond my depth. My high-blown pride
    At length broke under me and now has left me
    Weary and old with service to the mercy
    Of a rude stream that must forever hide me.
    2265Vain pomp and glory of this world I hate ye,
    I feel my heart new opened. Oh how wretched
    Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors?
    There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
    That sweet aspect of princes and their ruin,
    2270More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
    And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
    Never to hope again.
    Enter Cromwell, standing amazed.
    Why, how now Cromwell?
    2275Cromwell
    I have no power to speak, sir.
    What, amazed
    At my misfortunes? Can thy spirit wonder
    A great man should decline? Nay, and you weep
    I am fallen indeed.
    2280Cromwell
    How does your grace.
    Why, well.
    Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell;
    I know myself now, and I feel within me
    A peace above all earthly dignities,
    2285A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me.
    I humbly thank his grace, and from these shoulders,
    These ruined pillars, out of pity taken
    A load would sink a navy, too much honor.
    O 'tis a burden, Cromwell; 'tis a burden
    2290Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.
    Cromwell
    I am glad your grace
    Has made that right use of it.
    I hope I have.
    I am able now, methinks,
    2295(Out of a fortitude of soul, I feel),
    To endure more miseries, and greater far
    Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
    What news abroad?
    Comwell
    The heaviest and the worst
    2300Is your displeasure with the king.
    God bless him.
    Cromwell
    The next is that Sir Thomas More is chosen
    Lord Chancellor in your place.
    That's somewhat sudden,
    2305But he's a learned man. May he continue
    Long in his highness's favor, and do justice
    For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones,
    When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
    May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on him.
    2310What more?
    Cromwell
    That Cranmer is returned with welcome;
    Installed Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.
    That's news, indeed.
    Comwell
    Last, that the lady Anne,
    2315Whom the king hath in secrecy long married,
    This day was viewed in open, as his queen,
    Going to chapel; and the voice is now
    Only about her coronation.
    There was the weight that pulled me down.
    2320O, Cromwell,
    The king has gone beyond me: All my glories
    In that one woman I have lost forever.
    No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,
    Or gild again the noble troops that waited
    2325Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell;
    I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now
    To be thy lord and master. Seek the king
    (That sun I pray may never set), I have told him
    What and how true thou art. He will advance thee.
    2330Some little memory of me will stir him
    (I know his Noble Nature) not to let
    Thy hopeful service perish, too. Good Cromwell,
    Neglect him not; make use now, and provide
    For thine own future safety.
    2335Cromwell
    O, my lord,
    Must I then leave you? Must I needs forego
    So good, so noble, and so true a master?
    Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
    With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
    2340The King shall have my service, but my prayers
    Forever and forever shall be yours.
    Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
    In all my miseries, but thou hast forced me
    (Out of thy honest truth), to play the woman.
    2345Let's dry our eyes. And thus far hear me, Cromwell,
    And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
    And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
    Of me more must be heard of; say I taught thee;
    Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
    2350And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor,
    Found thee a way (out of his wreck), to rise in;
    A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
    Mark but my fall and that that ruined me.
    Cromwell, I charge thee: fling away ambition;
    2355By that sin fell the angels. How can man then
    (The image of his maker), hope to win by it?
    Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate thee.
    Corruption wins not more then honesty.
    Still, in thy right hand carry gentle peace
    2360To silence envious tongues. Be just and fear not;
    Let all the ends thou aimest at be thy countries,
    Thy gods, and truths. Then if thou fallest, O Cromwell,
    Thou fallest a blessed martyr.
    Serve the king; and prithee, lead me in.
    2365There take an inventory of all I have:
    To the last penny 'tis the king's. My robe,
    And my integrity to heaven is all
    I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell;
    Had I but served my God with half the zeal
    2370I served my king he would not, in mine age,
    Have left me naked to mine enemies.
    Cromwell
    Good sir, have patience.
    So I have. Farewell
    The hopes of court; my hopes in heaven do dwell.